Painting the inside of your kitchen cabinets is a great way to refresh your space without spending a lot of money. Many people wonder what the best paint for inside kitchen cabinets is, what tools needed to paint inside cabinets are, and what the typical drying time for cabinet paint inside is. The best paint is usually a durable, low-VOC, acrylic or enamel paint designed for cabinets or trim. You will need basic painting supplies like brushes, rollers, and drop cloths, along with cleaning supplies, sandpaper, and primer. Drying times vary, but plan for at least 24 hours before light use and several days for full cure. This guide will show you the right way to do it, step by simple step.
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Why Bother Painting Inside?
Giving the inside of your cabinets a fresh coat of paint can make a big difference. It brightens dark spaces, makes the cabinets look cleaner, and covers up old stains or marks. It also gives the whole kitchen a more finished look, even when the doors are open.
Preparing Your Workspace
Getting ready is key to a good paint job. You need to empty the cabinets, clean them well, and protect nearby areas.
Clearing Everything Out
Take everything out of the cabinets. This means dishes, food, shelves, and anything else stored inside. Find a safe place to store items while you work. Labeling things might help you put them back later.
Taking Off Doors and Drawers
For the best result, take off cabinet doors and drawer fronts. This gives you full access to the cabinet boxes. Remove hinges and hardware too. Keep all screws and parts in labeled bags so you know where they go.
Protecting Your Kitchen
Painting can be messy. Cover your countertops, floors, and appliances with drop cloths or plastic sheeting. Use painter’s tape to protect the edges of the cabinets where they meet walls or the face frames you are not painting.
Cleaning the Interiors
Knowing how to clean inside kitchen cabinets before painting is a vital step. Dirt, grease, and grime will stop paint from sticking right.
Simple Cleaning Steps
Use a good degreaser or a mix of mild soap and warm water. Wipe down every inside surface: the back wall, the sides, the bottom, and the top inside edge. Pay extra attention to corners and areas where grease collects.
- Mix soap and warm water.
- Wipe surfaces with a cloth or sponge.
- For tough grease, use a kitchen degreaser.
- Rinse with a clean, damp cloth to remove soap or cleaner residue.
- Let the cabinets dry completely before moving on. Water can cause paint problems.
Why Cleaning Matters
Clean surfaces let the primer and paint stick better. This means your paint job will last longer and look smoother. Don’t skip this step!
Getting Surfaces Ready
After cleaning, the surfaces need more prep. This includes filling holes, sanding, and wiping down. This is part of prep inside cabinets for painting.
Filling Small Holes
If you removed hardware or shelves and don’t plan to put them back in the exact spot, fill the holes with wood filler.
- Press wood filler into the holes with a putty knife.
- Wipe away extra filler so it is flat with the surface.
- Let the filler dry as the package says. This usually takes a few hours.
Smoothing Surfaces
Sanding cabinet interiors before painting helps the paint stick and makes the finish smooth. You don’t need to sand down to bare wood unless the old finish is flaking off.
- Use fine-grit sandpaper (like 150 or 220 grit).
- Lightly sand all inside surfaces. This creates tiny scratches the paint can grab onto.
- If you used wood filler, sand it smooth until it’s level with the wood.
- Use a sanding sponge for corners and tight spots.
- Don’t forget the edges and any places where cabinets join.
Cleaning Up Dust
Sanding creates dust. Paint won’t stick to dust. Wipe down all surfaces with a tack cloth or a damp cloth to remove all sanding dust. Let the damp cloth dry fully before painting.
Choosing Primer and Paint
Picking the right products is very important for painting cabinets. You need a good primer for inside cabinets and the best paint for inside kitchen cabinets.
Purpose of Primer
Primer does several things:
* It helps block stains from bleeding through the paint.
* It helps the new paint stick better to the old surface or bare wood.
* It creates a smooth base layer for the paint color.
* It makes the final paint color look truer.
Types of Primer
For cabinet interiors, use a high-quality bonding primer or a stain-blocking primer.
* Bonding primers: Good for smooth or tricky surfaces where other primers might not stick well.
* Stain-blocking primers: Essential if you have stains or knots in wood that might show through the paint.
Many primers are water-based (acrylic). They dry fast and have low odor. Oil-based primers are very good at blocking stains but have strong fumes and need mineral spirits for clean-up. For interiors, low-odor water-based primers are often best if stains aren’t a big issue.
Selecting the Right Paint
The best paint for inside kitchen cabinets is durable and easy to clean.
* Type: Acrylic enamel or urethane-modified acrylic paints are top choices. They dry hard and resist bumps and scrapes better than standard wall paint. They are water-based, making cleanup easier and reducing strong smells.
* Sheen: A satin or semi-gloss sheen is often used for cabinets. These sheens are more durable and easier to wipe clean than flat or eggshell finishes. Semi-gloss is very durable but can show imperfections more easily. Satin is a good balance.
* Low VOC: For inside cabinets, choose a low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paint. These paints have fewer harmful fumes, which is much better for your health and for items stored in the cabinets later. Look for paints labeled “low VOC” or “zero VOC”.
Considering Painting Wood Cabinets Inside
If your cabinets are bare wood, especially old wood, you might need a shellac-based primer first to seal knots and sap, then a water-based primer. After that, use a high-quality acrylic enamel paint as discussed. Wood grain might show through, which is fine for many looks. If you want a super smooth finish, you’d need special grain fillers, which is more work.
Gathering Your Tools Needed To Paint Inside Cabinets
Having the right tools needed to paint inside cabinets makes the job easier and gives a better result.
Essential Tools List
- Safety Gear: Safety glasses, gloves, a mask (especially for sanding and if using oil paint).
- Cleaning Supplies: Degreaser, soap, sponges, cloths, buckets.
- Repair Supplies: Wood filler, putty knife.
- Sanding Supplies: Sandpaper (150, 220 grit), sanding sponge, tack cloths.
- Primer and Paint: Chosen primer and paint.
- Brushes: High-quality synthetic brushes (for water-based paint) for cutting in corners and edges. Angle brushes are helpful.
- Rollers: Small foam or fine-finish nap rollers (4-inch or 6-inch) for smooth surfaces. These leave fewer texture marks than regular wall rollers.
- Roller Frames: Small frames to match your roller size.
- Paint Trays or Buckets: Small ones for easy dipping.
- Painter’s Tape: For masking edges.
- Drop Cloths/Plastic Sheeting: To protect surfaces.
- Screwdriver or Drill: To remove cabinet hardware, doors, and shelves.
- Putty Knife or Scraper: To remove old drips if needed.
- Ventilation Fan: Important for moving air. (Relates to ventilation painting cabinets)
| Tool Category | Items Needed |
|---|---|
| Safety | Safety glasses, gloves, mask |
| Cleaning | Degreaser, soap, sponges, cloths, buckets |
| Repair | Wood filler, putty knife |
| Sanding | Sandpaper (150, 220 grit), sanding sponge, tack cloths |
| Paint/Primer | Chosen products |
| Application | Synthetic brushes, small foam/fine-nap rollers, trays |
| Protection | Painter’s tape, drop cloths |
| Removal/Misc. | Screwdriver/drill, scraper, ventilation fan |
The Painting Process: Step-by-Step
Now that everything is prepped and you have your tools, it’s time to paint!
Step 1: Priming the Interiors
Apply the primer evenly to all inside surfaces.
- Start with edges and corners: Use a brush to paint along the inside edges and into the corners. This is called “cutting in”.
- Roll the large areas: Use the small roller for the back, sides, and bottom of the cabinet box. Roll out the primer in thin, even coats. Avoid applying too much primer at once, as it can drip or pool.
- Paint shelves: Don’t forget to prime any shelves you plan to paint. You can paint them outside the cabinet box on a protected surface. (This covers painting cabinet shelves inside).
- Follow drying times: Let the primer dry completely. Check the product label for specific drying time for cabinet paint inside (primer stage). This is often 1-4 hours, but recoat times vary. Applying a second coat of primer might be needed, especially if you had stains or wanted better coverage.
Step 2: Light Sanding After Priming
Once the primer is dry, lightly sand it. This removes any small bumps or imperfections and makes the surface even smoother for the paint.
- Use very fine-grit sandpaper (like 220 grit or higher).
- Gently sand all primed surfaces. You are just smoothing, not removing the primer.
- Wipe away all sanding dust with a tack cloth. Make sure no dust remains.
Step 3: Applying the First Coat of Paint
Apply the first coat of your chosen paint color.
- Cut in: Use your brush to paint the edges and corners first, just like with the primer.
- Roll: Use a clean foam or fine-nap roller to paint the main surfaces. Roll in smooth, even strokes.
- Avoid drips: Be careful not to apply too much paint, especially in corners or where surfaces meet. Check for drips as you go and smooth them out with your brush or roller.
- Paint shelves: Paint the shelves the same way. Do one side, let it dry fully, then flip and paint the other side. (More on painting cabinet shelves inside).
Step 4: Allowing Proper Drying Time
This is crucial. Drying time for cabinet paint inside depends on the paint type, temperature, and humidity.
- Check the label: The paint can will give drying times. There’s “to touch” time, “to recoat” time, and “full cure” time.
- Recoat time: This is the time you must wait before applying the next coat. It could be 2-4 hours or longer. Waiting long enough prevents pulling up the first coat.
- Full cure time: This is how long it takes for the paint to reach its full hardness and durability. This can take several days to a few weeks. The paint will feel dry to the touch much sooner, but it’s still soft and can be easily damaged until fully cured.
Step 5: Applying the Second (or Third) Coat
Most projects need at least two coats of paint for good coverage and durability.
- Wait the recommended recoat time after the first coat is dry to the touch but before it cures too much (check paint can).
- Lightly sand again with very fine grit paper (320 or higher) if there are any dust bits or imperfections. This step is optional but helps achieve a super smooth finish. Wipe away all dust.
- Apply the second coat the same way you applied the first: cut in edges, then roll the main areas.
- Apply thin, even coats. Two thin coats are better than one thick coat.
- Allow the second coat to dry completely. Follow the drying time for cabinet paint inside for the second coat.
Ensuring Good Ventilation Painting Cabinets
Proper ventilation painting cabinets is very important for health and for helping the paint dry correctly.
Why Airflow Matters
- Reduces fumes: Paint fumes can be strong and harmful. Good airflow carries them away.
- Helps drying: Air movement helps water-based paints dry faster by carrying away moisture.
- Better for your health: Breathing fewer fumes is simply safer.
How to Ventilate
- Open windows and doors in the kitchen and nearby areas.
- Use fans to create cross-ventilation. Place a fan in a window blowing air out and another fan in a different window or door blowing fresh air in.
- If you have an exhaust fan over your stove, turn it on.
- Consider using a box fan placed in a window to pull air out of the room.
- Keep the area well-ventilated while painting and while the paint is drying, especially during the first 24-72 hours.
Handling Painting Cabinet Shelves Inside
Painting cabinet shelves inside requires the same steps as the cabinet boxes.
Tips for Shelves
- Paint shelves on a flat, protected surface outside the cabinet box if possible. This prevents drips inside the cabinet and makes painting easier.
- If painting shelves inside the cabinet, do them at the same time as the box interior.
- Paint one side of a removable shelf, let it dry fully (check paint can for this specific process, sometimes waiting 24 hours is best before flipping), then paint the other side. Prop them up on painter’s pyramids or blocks so the edges don’t stick.
- For fixed shelves inside the cabinet box, paint them as part of the interior space. Be careful not to let paint pool where the shelf meets the side walls.
Reassembly and Curing
Once the paint is dry to the touch, you can start thinking about putting things back, but slowly.
When is it Dry Enough?
The paint will feel dry quickly, but it is still soft. Avoid putting items back in the cabinets or reattaching doors until the paint is hard enough to resist scuffing. This is usually after the recoat time has passed, but you should still be gentle. Waiting 24-48 hours after the final coat before putting anything back is a good idea.
Reinstalling Doors and Hardware
Put the hinges and hardware back on the doors. Reattach the doors to the cabinet boxes. Be careful not to bump the freshly painted interior edges.
Putting Shelves Back
Wait as long as possible before putting shelves back, especially if they hold heavy items. If you can wait for the paint to reach its full cure (which can be days or weeks), the shelves are less likely to get damaged. If you need to use them sooner, place shelf paper or protectors down to prevent items from sticking or scratching the paint.
Replacing Items
Place your dishes, food, and other items back into the cabinets gently. Avoid sliding heavy items across the painted surfaces until the paint is fully cured.
Painting Wood Cabinets Inside: Special Notes
Painting wood cabinets inside that are bare wood or previously finished requires a slightly different approach sometimes.
Bare Wood Considerations
- Knots and Sap: Bare wood, especially pine, can have knots or sap pockets. These will often bleed through paint. Use a shellac-based primer specifically designed to block these stains. Apply a thin coat just over the knots/stains, let it dry, then apply a full coat over everything. Follow with your chosen water-based primer for overall adhesion if desired, then paint.
- Grain: Wood has grain. Paint will follow the grain unless you fill it. For a very smooth, furniture-like finish, you would apply a grain filler before priming and painting. This is extra work and depends on the look you want. Most people painting cabinet interiors are fine with some wood grain showing.
- Open Grain: Woods like oak have deep grain. Foam rollers might work best to get paint into the grain. Brushing can also work.
Previously Finished Wood
If the inside was previously painted or varnished, the prep steps mentioned earlier (cleaning, light sanding, priming) are usually enough. Make sure the old finish is not flaking or peeling. If it is, you’ll need to scrape or sand off the loose bits before cleaning and priming.
Maintenance for Painted Interiors
Once your cabinets are painted and cured, they need simple care to stay looking good.
Cleaning Painted Surfaces
- Use a soft cloth or sponge and mild soap (like dish soap) and water.
- Avoid harsh cleaners or abrasive pads, which can scratch the paint.
- Wipe up spills quickly, especially liquids like oils or colorful foods that could stain light paint colors.
Touch-Ups
If the paint gets a small scratch or chip after use, keep a little leftover paint for touch-ups. Clean the area, let it dry, and carefully dab a tiny bit of paint on the spot with a small artist’s brush.
Summary of Key Steps
Painting the inside of your kitchen cabinets is a step-by-step project.
- Empty and detach doors/drawers.
- Protect your kitchen area.
- Clean interiors well to remove all grease and dirt (how to clean inside kitchen cabinets before painting).
- Fill holes and sand surfaces lightly (sanding cabinet interiors before painting, prep inside cabinets for painting). Wipe away dust.
- Apply a good primer (primer for inside cabinets). Let it dry fully.
- Apply the first coat of a durable paint (best paint for inside kitchen cabinets). Apply thin, even coats.
- Allow proper drying time (drying time for cabinet paint inside).
- Apply a second coat of paint. Allow it to dry and cure, with good ventilation painting cabinets.
- Reinstall shelves (painting cabinet shelves inside) and doors gently after sufficient drying/curing time.
- Replaced items carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
h4> How long does the paint take to cure completely?
Full cure for cabinet paint usually takes anywhere from 7 to 30 days. The paint feels dry to the touch much sooner (hours), and you can often recoat in a few hours. But it stays soft and easy to damage until fully cured. Be gentle for the first few weeks.
h4> Do I really need to prime the inside of the cabinets?
Yes, priming is highly recommended, even with paints that say they are “paint and primer in one.” Primer helps the paint stick better, blocks stains, and gives a more even final color.
h4> Can I use chalk paint or other decorative paints inside cabinets?
While you can use almost any paint, chalk paint and similar finishes are often softer and less durable than acrylic enamels. They might not hold up well to the scraping and bumping that happens inside cabinets. For durability and easy cleaning, acrylic enamel or urethane paints are better choices.
h4> Is it okay to paint inside cabinets with the doors still on?
It’s much harder and the results won’t be as good. You’ll have trouble reaching corners and edges near the door opening, and you risk getting paint on the door fronts or hinges. Taking doors off is worth the effort for a cleaner, more durable finish.
h4> My cabinets are really greasy. How do I clean them enough?
Use a strong degreaser made for kitchens. Follow the product instructions. You might need to apply it, let it sit for a few minutes, and scrub with a brush or abrasive sponge (test in a hidden spot first!). Rinse well with clean water several times until no grease residue remains. If they are still greasy after cleaning and drying, the primer might not stick.
h4> What is the best paint for inside kitchen cabinets if I’m worried about smell?
Look for paints labeled “low VOC” or “zero VOC.” These have very low levels of strong-smelling chemicals. Combine this with good ventilation painting cabinets. Water-based acrylic enamels generally have less odor than oil-based paints.
h4> Should I paint the hinges?
It’s best to remove hinges before painting. Painting over hinges can cause them to work poorly, and the paint will likely chip off quickly with use. Clean the hinges or replace them if they look old or rusty.
h4> Can I skip sanding?
Light sanding is important for adhesion, especially over old finishes or primer. It creates a surface the paint can grip onto. Skipping it means the paint is more likely to peel or chip later. A quick, light sand is usually enough.
h4> What about painting the inside of drawers?
The same process applies to the inside of drawers. Empty, clean, sand, prime, and paint. Use a durable, low-VOC paint. Make sure drawers are fully dry before putting items back.
By following these steps, you can successfully paint the inside of your kitchen cabinets, giving them a fresh, clean look that will last. Take your time with the prep, choose the right products, and let the paint dry fully for the best results.